Professional skater, Fahd Bello reveals his journey as a visionary, designer and artist exploring “Chaos” and how he has implemented his storytelling through his designs.
With his recent drop of his 'Fahdsuniverse' jerseys released on the 5th of January in multiple colours including red, blue and black and white. We had the opportunity to interview the multi-faceted artist and his brand, Fahdsuniverse.
So, Fahd, you’re a professional skater and a part of the WAFFLESNCREAM skate community, in Nigeria, tell me the story about how you first got into skating?
FAHD: “I was 15 years old when I found out about skateboarding. It happened very fast, so my brother usually has his friends over and (they) come around to play games and what not. At that point I wasn’t really social, I didn’t really have a phone. He let me take my brother’s friend’s phone and I just surfed the internet, cos at that point it was still quite fresh for us. I was going through it, and I saw someone on a board. A white guy, a white guy specifically on the board. And I was just like, what was this? I was just mind blown because I had no idea what this was and from there, I was like, now I actually have to do this. I don’t remember, I think it was Chris Haslam, but I don’t really remember the details too much, but that’s the skater. So, I was mind blown from there, and I was like, yeah I love this. I fuck with this. And so, I started practicing with a board that my friend gave to me, my own personal friend, my childhood friend. Every time he travelled to the States or to London, he would come back and then he just, like give me boards. He never used them. So, he just gave them to me, like you know what? You love this thing so much; you just have it. Very first board I used was an air walk. I’d always practice in my living room, practicing kick-flips, all the kick-flips and then from there, like it just took off.”
Is Fahdsuniverse a clothing line? Could you tell us a bit more about your brand? Are you only selling garments, or could we also see you even selling skateboards and art?
FAHD: “No, fahdsuniverse is actually not a clothing brand. I am an identity. I’m an identity of, -this is an identity of a multifaceted artist. I do more than one thing. Not just because I’m trying to take on art, you know the whole art kind of vibe. It’s just because I love challenges, I love trying out new things and that’s how I’ve built myself up to this level where I can apply myself in different ways. So, it’s not limited to clothing, in fact clothing is the newest addition to my collection. I’m just in my experimental phase. And yes, I’m going to create decks, more merchandise and not just limited to that. Stickers, tee’s, actual tees as my recent drop were jerseys and souvenirs. My brand is basically who I am, it is not limited to clothing. Everything else is an extension of who I am, but me as a person, as a personality, I’m Fahd’s universe. It’s my universe, it’s my world. It’s like my universe and you are all living in it, that’s how I see it [laughs].”
With your first release, titled “CHAOS IN ORDER”, what is the story behind that phrase?
FAHD: “Chaos in order was born from a drawing that I made on my sketch-pad. This represents me as an artist living in Lagos and thriving. Not only as an artist but as a professional skateboarder. And every time I go out to skate, get clips for my friends, I deal with the chaos that exists within Lagos. The noise, the smell, the good things, the great things, the bad things, the ugly things, everything altogether you know that collectively come together which creates chaos. When I created chaos in order, it’s basically me describing all the mess that I take into my head, all the chaos and the order is me bringing it out in an art form or as a drawing. [laughs] I guess this is weird but basically this is my head, it can be messy but right now it’s in order because I put it out with intent, and I was intentional about the design and about what I wanted to show. It’s basically little elements, bits of pieces of me and the things I believe in. That’s pretty much what it is. Chaos in order, there’s a lot of mess going on but then there is order at the same time in-between all that chaos, you just have to find it.
Can you tell us about any future drops that you have planned?
FAHD: “For my future plans I intend to explore more murals, like to do more statement pieces that are centred to the public, to do experiments where I create a piece on a wider scale that speaks to the public and community. I’m big on mental health and that’s one of the things that I want to address in art. Murals is one of the mediums I’m trying to express my art and myself. And that’s not just it, I’m also working on an art book, a small zine where I have like pieces of my art for people to experience me in a different way, experience my world, my universe in a different way. Also, I’m working on an immersive experience where people walk into my universe. These are the little plans I have, there’s more but I’m not going to reveal all just yet [laughs]. One more thing I can also say is there is new animations coming out for screenings.
Regarding your creative ability and flair, how did you learn animation as a graphic designer? Are you self-taught?
FAHD: “Well, like I said I’m a curious cat, I love to challenge myself. As a child I always played video games like crazy, even though I play once in a while, but I just don’t have all the time. But, it started like a joke, because I was joking with my friends, like wow I should try this and one day I just started on procreate on my iPad. I was just learning the basics, and once I got the basics of animation, I just took it next level. It started as a challenge for myself but then I started to get gigs from it which even encouraged me to go further to dive deeper into the world of animation. So yeah, I’m self-taught 100 percent. I didn’t go to school for it, no prior knowledge. I just went on a YouTube and then I finessed it all the way. Yes, I’m self-taught.
Do you feel joining the WAFFLESNCREAM skate part community in Nigeria changed your life as a creative designer, and if yes, why?
FAHD: “I don’t think joining WAFFLESNCREAM changed my life, I wouldn’t say changed my life as a creative person, but I would say it made a big impact. In fact, a great massive impact in my life. I’ve always had the knack for creating, I’ve always wanted to be a creative in different ways but being a part of WAFFLESNCREAM only propelled me into more spaces that I felt that I was welcomed. It made me believe that there are more people doing this, there’s more people who accept this and it just gives me the ample strive of encouragement. I wouldn’t say it changed my life, but I would say it definitely made an impact in my life and I’m grateful and it’s been a nice journey.
Is there a brand you would love to with collaborate with Fahdsuniverse?
FAHD: There’s actually a couple of brands that I would love to work with to be honest. But the main one I would love to work with is Adidas. I think because I have been skating with Adidas shoes for the longest time, so this has been something I have been manifesting and hopefully get to collaborate someday, I’m working towards that. I already have all the concepts in my mind, so yes, it’s Adidas, I would love to work with Adidas.
To purchase and find out more about Fahdsuniverse, their social media and website is linked below:
Instagram: @fahdsuniverse
Website: www.fahdsuniverse.com
